Breast Cancer Facts

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. (Source: American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures, 2017)

Based on rates from 2007-2009, 12.38% of women born today will be diagnosed with cancer of the breast at some time during their lifetime. This number can also be expressed as 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with cancer of the breast during their lifetime. (Source: National Cancer Institute, Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results)

In 2019, an estimated 268,600 US women and 2,670 US men will be newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

In addition to invasive breast cancer, 62,930 cases of in situ breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in 2019. (Source: American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures, 2019)

In 2019, an estimated 41,760 US women and 500 US men will die of breast cancer. (Source: American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures, 2019)

In 2019, an estimated 1,330 women will be newly diagnosed with breast cancer in New Hampshire. (Source: Source: American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures, 2019)

Older women are much more likely to get breast cancer than younger women. The median age for a breast cancer diagnosis from 2006-2010 was 61 years of age. (Source: SEER 2013)

All women are at risk for breast cancer. Only 5-10% of those with breast cancer have inherited a mutation in the known breast cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) and 90-95% of breast cancer cases do not involve these inherited mutations. (Source: National Breast Cancer Coalition; ACS 2013-2014; NCI 2006)

Mammography screening does not prevent or cure breast cancer. It may detect the disease before symptoms occur. It has not led to a significant decline in the incidence of late stage disease. It may also lead to over diagnosis and over treatment. (Source: National Breast Cancer Coalition; Bleyer and Welch, 2012; Nelson, et.al., 2009)